Town hit back from Cup woe with two wins
● RUNCORN TOWN responded from their disappointing exit from the FA Cup earlier this month to bag maximum spoils from a pair of games in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division.
A 2-0 win over Hanley Town last Wednesday evening was followed by a battling 2-1 success against 1874 Northwich on Saturday afternoon.
The six points accrued helped Chris Herbert’s outfit stay right in the mix at the business end of the table. Heading into this weekend’s visit to Barnoldswick Town – kick-off 3pm – Runcorn are just one point behind leaders City of Liverpool FC, the only side to take points off them so far this season.
When asked earlier this month whether the exit from the FA Cup was a proverbial blessing in disguise to enable his team to concentrate purely on the league, Herbert answered in the negative.
He said: “We want to do well in the Vase. We want to do well in everything. “You don’t enter any competition to get beat. “Some managers might say at least we can concentrate on the league but we want to do well in the cups. It’s a chance of silverware at the end of the day. City of Liverpool will be tough to finish above in the league this season.
“We want to keep in there and fight until the end and you never know what can happen.”
As far as the Vase is concerned, Town have been handed a home tie in the first round against Northern League Division One side Guisborough Town from North Yorkshire.
Runcorn have been exempt until this stage of the competition by virtue of finishing in the top four in the league last season but will face a Guisborough side who won their first qualifying round 9-0 at Stokesley before overcoming Barnoldswick Town 4-2. The tie will be played at the Viridor Community Stadium on October 13.
Runcorn are without a midweek game next week.